Interest heats up for 'AFL Idol'

AFL hopeful Kris Pendlebury, left, says he'd love to get picked for the proposed AFL reality show. Picture: Chris Scott Source: Herald Sun

MORE than one player could secure an AFL contract at the end of a proposed football reality TV show.

The Herald Sun yesterday revealed Fox Sports was in talks with league chiefs about launching a program to help discover undrafted AFL talent.

While the concept was still being finalised, it is understood the AFL is keen on the show, if it is fair for all clubs.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, whose media company is behind the program, said there would be a draft at the end of the series to help find AFL homes for several players.

"We're going to have a draft, that's the whole idea," McGuire said on Triple M.

"We'll have a draft, so the clubs will be able to sit down and pick a few of these blokes.

"It's a chance to give young Australians the chance to live their dream."

Fox Sports experts would put nominees through gruelling testing to help establish their AFL potential.

"What we'll do is basically have a season, where young people will come in, they'll audition, and we'll play them and they'll train," McGuire said.

"You'll get an insight into what goes on behind the scenes."

AFL aspirant Kris Pendlebury yesterday backed the concept.

"Where do I sign up for this reality afl show?? #keen #needachance," Pendlebury tweeted.

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Eight AFL players top $1m

Gold Coast Suns skipper Gary Ablett is believed to be one of the AFL's $1 million men. Picture: Darren England. Source: The Courier-Mail

THE number of AFL players earning more than $1 million rocketed to a record eight last year.

The highest number of million-dollar-earners previously was two in 2008 and 2011.

AFL figures released yesterday revealed the dramatic rise in player salaries on the back of the league's expansion and record broadcast rights deal.

The AFL did not release the names of the eight players, although champion midfielder and Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett, Saints' skipper Nick Riewoldt and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Scully are believed to be among the top earners.

One AFL player agent suggested heavily front-ended contracts could have propelled the GWS co-captains, Callan Ward and Phil Davis, into the top bracket.

Lance Franklin, Chris Judd, Matthew Pavlich and Adam Goodes were other players tipped to be among the leading earners.

Code-jumper Israel Folau, who quit GWS in November after just 13 games and one season in the AFL, was also reported to be one of the league's biggest earners last year.

But the AFL said only match payments and ASA agreements were included in the figures and not third-party arrangements.

The figures, which will be included in the AFL's 2012 annual report, also showed that 111 players earned more than $400,000 last year.

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Saints want annual NZ Anzac Day game

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes meet players from the Denver Broncos. The Saints play the first AFL match for premiership points overseas this year - in NZ on Anzac Day against Sydney. Picture: Dustin Bradford. Source: Getty Images

ST KILDA expects an open-ended ticket from the AFL to play Anzac Day matches in Wellington from this year as the club begins the journey into the sport's newest frontier.

The Saints will play Sydney on Anzac Day for the premiership points - the first league game to be held outside Australia - and foresee an arrangement where they play an Anzac Day game off-shore for at least the next 10-20 years.

So embraced with the concept, Saints chief executive Michael Nettlefold was open to the suggestion the game remained a permanent fixture.

"Clearly, this is the first step and we'd like to think it is long-term," Nettlefold said.

"We've taken a long-term approach, investing a lot of time, effort and energy, and we're doing that because we see the long-term prospect of working with New Zealanders, developing our business in New Zealand.

"My view, it would have a 10, 20-year framework.

"We have an obligation to keep developing our club and the club's commercial interest, developing our culture, leadership and vision ... we're restless in our approach to do that.

"And this is good to be at the forefront of ... it's great for all of our club."

The Saints have an agreement to play on Anzac Day for the next three years at Wellington's 34,500-seat Westpac Stadium and will play an extra game for official points in August of 2014 and 2015. NAB Cup games are also planned.

But as the Saints forge a partnership with the Australian Defence Force and the New Zealand Defence Force, it's Anzac Day they want to own, as much as Essendon and Collingwood has at the MCG.

The match will be telecast live on Fox Footy immediately after the Pies-Dons match.

"It's a significant day, an historical game," Nettlefold said.

"It's the first game outside of Australia for premiership points and it will acknowledge the Anzac relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

"Our intention is to embrace Anzac Day quite significantly.

"We have a number of past players who lost their live in overseas conflicts in our 140-year history, we have a close working relationship with the ADF, they play their carnival at Moorabbin, we are doing work now with the ADF in some of our leadership and cultural programs, so our intention is to embrace it wholly."

It's anticipated the AFL's two senior executives, Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan, will attend the game, while Prime Minister Julia Gillard will also be invited.

Nettlefold would not reveal the club's projected windfall from playing in New Zealand - potentially upwards of $500,000 a game.

"It's fully underwritten for us at the moment, but from a financial aspect we're not quite sure where the returns are going to finish," he said.

"We hope it's going to be strongly positive because it's commercially important for the club that it is."

The Saints yesterday held a brief training session at the "Snake Pit", the stadium where the game will be played, and reported that its surface was as good as any they had played/trained on.

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Summit to scrutinise Mad Monday

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert sparked the drugs issue in a speech late last year. Picture: Jay Town Source: Herald Sun

"MAD Monday" and post-season football trips will be heavily scrutinised at Wednesday's AFL's drug summit.

With the AFL Players Association confirming it is prepared to discuss changes to the code's three-strikes illicit drugs policy, the long-held traditions of end-of-season celebrations and large scale trips away by players could be scaled back and more closely monitored by the clubs.

Already AFL clubs have cut back on large scale end-of-season trips, restricting them to smaller numbers because of concerns about the behaviour of some players.

Some clubs have already had security accompany players on their overseas trips and this could be expanded in the future.

Those points will form part of a wide-ranging agenda for the AFL player welfare summit next week, with the tightening of a loophole in self-reporting by players to avoid a drugs strike also being strongly considered.

The league will host a range of high-powered administrators, players, medical officers, drugs experts and police at Etihad Stadium to discuss and debate the best way to tackle the drugs issue in AFL football and the wider community.

The Herald Sun has obtained a copy of the forum's agenda, which will be chaired by AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, who this week admitted he expected to see a "spike" in positive drugs tests conducted last season.

The forum was called after Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert raised the drugs issue at the AFL CEO's meeting on the Gold Coast last year.

Pert later said he feared some players had "volcanic behaviour" during their off-season break.

Three current AFL chief executives - Geelong's Brian Cook, Western Bulldogs' Simon Garlick and West Coast's Trevor Nisbett - will lead a panel discussion centred on the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

Some of the issues to be addressed will be:

THE involvement of the AFL and the reporting procedure to the AFL

CLUB board and executive involvement and meetings

THE sanctions and expectations of the player going forward after a positive drug strike and what to do if he re-offends.

All three CEOs have had experience in dealing with player drug issues at their club.

Cook had to deal with Mathew Stokes' possession charge in 2010; Garlick was involved in dealing with the fallout of Tom Liberatore being found in possession of an ecstasy tablet last year; while Nisbett was at the Eagles during Ben Cousins' drug controversies.

Three AFL players and AFLPA board members Luke Ball (president), Daniel Jackson and Robert Murphy - as well as AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis - will lead a debate on how footballers can balance their life with the increasing demands of the game across 10 months of the year.

Other issues to be discussed include: the pressure on players, training expectations on annual leave, closer monitoring of players on leave and downtime, a potential role of club integrity/security, and greater development for players outside of the game.

Australian Drug Foundation chief executive John Rogerson and leading psychologist Dr Michael Carr Gregg are among the speakers who will discuss the treatment of drug users and the link between drugs and excessive use of alcohol.

Victoria and Federal Police will also be well represented.

Among the law enforcement speakers will be former Tiger and Bulldogs big man Emmett Dunne, who is now Assistant Commissioner, Professional Standards Command of Victoria Police.

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AFLPA looks at drug-code loophole

AFL public relations manager Ian Prendergast. Picture: Nicole Garmston. Source: Herald Sun

THE AFL Players Association is prepared to give ground on the self-reporting loophole a number of AFL players are using to escape drug strikes.

AFLPA general manager of player relations Ian Prendergast confirmed the association would consider "minor changes'' to the AFL policy ahead of Wednesday's drugs summit.

One aspect of the drugs code certain to be discussed will be the recent spike in AFL players self-reporting the use of drugs to AFL medical directors Peter Harcourt and Harry Unglik.

By self-reporting, players avoid registering a positive drugs test and a strike against their name.

"There has been some discussions about the opportunity for players to self-report and we have had some talks with the AFL medical directors,'' Prendergast said.

"We don't think it is being exploited yet, but perhaps there are some emerging trends that we can deal with quite simply. I would imagine that (self-reporting) will be a small part of a broader discussion.''

The Herald Sun revealed last month some AFL players were avoiding positive drug strikes under the league's three-strikes illicit drugs policy by self-reporting their use of drugs.

Clubs have become increasingly concerned that a small number of players are using this as a deliberate ploy to avoid getting a drugs strike.

Prendergast said a delicate balance had to be maintained in the AFL drug code between the players' health interests and those deliberately and recklessly breaking the rules.

"We are certainly in on-going conversations with the medical operators, who administer the policy,'' Prendergast said.

"We have spoken to them about some minor changes  which we think can address some of the issues that are arguably emerging which allow the policy to maintain that balance in terms of operating as a medical model in the best interests of the players from a health point of view but also as a deterrent to those players who perhaps choose to run the gauntlet.''

Prendergast would not respond to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou's claim that there would be a "spike'' in positive drug tests when the results of the 2012 season are released.

"I think confidentiality is the key pillar (of the drugs policy),'' he said. "We will have a presence (at the summit). It is a great opportunity to provide our views on what is obviously a huge issue not only for the AFL but for the community.''

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AFL faces up to reality with new show

Collingwood president and Fox Footy TV personality Eddie McGuire is said to be behind a proposed AFL reality show. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis. Source: Herald Sun

A REALITY football show being considered by the AFL would guarantee the winner a spot on a league list.

The Herald Sun has learned Fox Sports has put the radical proposal to AFL heavyweights, with plans to film this season.

The prize would be a spot on a club's rookie list, most likely Greater Western Sydney.

Collingwood president and football kingpin Eddie McGuire is behind the project and is slated to host the program.

McGuire Media chief executive Cos Cardone did not want to comment at length last night.

"We have a number of formats in development and we are always talking to broadcasters about those ideas," Cardone said.

While the league is yet to formally agree to the concept, it is understood key officials, including chief executive Andrew Demetriou, have tentatively backed the Fox Sports proposal.

A mechanism which would give every club access to the winning player is being discussed.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane last night said the league would assess the plan in detail.

"Yes, there has been an initial discussion," Keane said.

"The AFL will now await a proposal to consider it and the possible ramifications for the wider industry."

Under one plan, clubs could bid for the winning player in December's rookie draft.

The player would go to the club that placed the highest bid.

If no bids were received, the player would be automatically listed by the Giants.

Greater Western Sydney chief executive David Matthews welcomed plans to produce the reality football show.

"There have been a number of concepts similar to this proposed over the years and we think it's an idea that's got merit and the Giants would be happy to support it subject to AFL approval," Matthews said.

Financial backing would need to be secured for the show, although there are hopes it would be a ratings hit.

The program would take viewers deep into the trials and tribulations of a group of youngsters intent on proving their AFL worth.

Players from around Australia would be invited to try out for the show.

Fox Sports would appoint a team of experts to select the participants.

Short-listed players would be put through gruelling physical and mental testing at a series of selection camps.

Former AFL football operations boss Adrian Anderson was understood to have been a strong supporter of the concept.

His recent departure has slowed the approval process, but Fox Sports remains hopeful the show can be recorded this season.

The concept draws on Australian sports reality shows Football Superstar and Cricket Superstar, which both aired on Fox8.

In those shows, amateur soccer and cricket players were put through training and trial matches under the close watch of expert judges.

Each week, contestants were removed from the show, leaving a couple of finalists to battle out for the grand prize of a professional contract.

The winner of Cricket Superstar, Ian Holland, was listed by the Victorian Bushrangers for the 2012-13 summer. He also did four months training at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar signed a player each as part of the three-season Football Superstar series.

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Saints train in Wellington

SuperFooty's Mark Robinson joins training with St Kilda at Westpac Stadium as they prepare for their Anzac Day clash

St Kilda will play at Westpac Stadium. Picture: Getty Images Source: HWT Image Library

VIDEO: FROM Moorabbin to Seaford to Wellington, take a look at St Kilda's latest training base.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson takes you inside Westpac Stadium in New Zealand as the Saints go through their paces in their pre-season training camp.

>> VIDEO: Watch in the video player above

The Saints will host Sydney in an historic Anzac Day match in Wellington  this year - the first AFL game played for premiership points off Australian shores.

As the build-up to April 25 begins, take a look at Robbo's video and make sure you pick up tomorrow's Herald Sun for the latest from him in New Zealand.

Summer Barometer: See how the Saints are shaping up

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Ablett to lead Suns again

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett, centre, sets the pace at Suns training. Picture: Matt Roberts. Source: Getty Images

SUPERSTAR Gary Ablett will lead the Gold Coast Suns for a third successive season in 2013.

The Brownlow Medallist will be assisted by Nathan Bock and Michael Rischitelli, have retained their vice-captain and deputy vice-captain roles respectively.

The Suns will shake things up this season, splitting the players into three separate groups according to their level of playing experience.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said every player's leadership skills would be groomed under their new-look structure.

The Suns will develop their leadership program this season in a partnership with sports consultancy business Bluestone Edge.

"Our initial leadership groups have set the framework for our club and that included identifying what the players wanted to stand for, their values and expectations," he said.

"As the majority of our players transition into their third season, and now understand what it takes to play and prepare at the highest level, we have challenged them to take the next step on the leadership front."

Meanwhile, Suns forward Liam Patrick is expected to be sidelined for two to four weeks after injuring his hamstring at training on Thursday.

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Suns suffer injury blow

Liam Patrick celebrates a goal. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

SUNS forward Liam Patrick looks set to miss the NAB Cup after injuring his hamstring at training today.

The 24-year-old, who has played 11 senior games for the club, was carried from Metricon Stadium and later emerged on crutches and with ice strapped to his hamstring.

He has been sent for scans.

Patrick was left lying on the ground after a contest in a match drill that involved a pack of players that included Karmichael Hunt.

The Suns' trainers initially feared he may have been knocked out but later reported he had suffered no other injury beside the hamstring.

Summer Barometer: Click here for Suns' training, injury latest

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Young Magpie denies assault

FIGHTING: Collingwood's Marley Williams has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD young gun Marley Williams has pleaded not guilty to an assault charge and will face trial in a WA court later this year.

Williams was charged over an incident at a nightclub in his home town of Albany in late December.

Police allege Williams, 19, got into an argument about 1.30am with a 29-year-old man.

The other man was ejected from the venue, and when Williams left he saw the man outside.

Williams then allegedly punched the man, who was taken to Albany Regional Hospital with a broken jaw.

The footballer was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

In Albany Magistrates Court today, he pleaded not guilty via video link from Melbourne.

The case has been scheduled for mention in March.

The footballer asked to be excused from appearing via video link on that date, but the request was rejected by the court. No date for the trial has been set.

Despite the not guilty plea, the Magpies have chosen to make Williams work with the Salvation Army's soup van on the streets of Melbourne as punishment for his involvement in the late-night scuffle.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley announced last week Williams would help the Salvos for the next 10 weeks until the home-and-away season kicks off.

"We just feel it's a good opportunity for Marley to see a different side of things, and we'll be supporting him with our leaders attending each week as he goes through that community service, which we think is appropriate," Buckley said.

Williams joined the Magpies last year as a rookie and played six senior games. He has been promoted to the senior list.
 

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